Opposites attract--and then complicate--in this romantic, relatable novel from the author of Two-way Street and Sometimes It Happens.

It starts with a scribbled note in class: I like your sparkle. Harper had casually threaded a piece of blue and silver tinsel through her ponytail in honor of school spirit day. And that carefree, corny gesture is what grabs Penn Mattingly's eye. Penn--resident heartbreaker of the senior class. Reliably unreliable. Trouble with a capital "T." And okay, smolderingly sexy.

Harper's surprised by Penn's attention--and so is Penn. The last thing he needs is a girlfriend. Or even a friend-with-benefits. The note is not supposed to lead to anything.

Oh, but it does. They hang out. They have fun. They talk. They make out. And after a while, it seems like they just click. But Penn and Harper have very different ideas about what relationships look like, in no small part because of their very different family backgrounds. Of course they could talk about these differences--if Penn knew how to talk about feelings.

Harper and Penn understand their attraction is illogical, yet something keeps pulling them together. It's like a crazy roller coaster--exhilarating, terrifying, and amazing all at once. And neither knows how to stop the ride...

Publishers Weekly® Reviews

Reviewed in:
Publishers Weekly,
page
.

Review Date:
2014-05-05

Reviewer:
Staff

Former baseball star Penn Mattingly can have any girl he wants at school, while Harper Fairbanks is a nice, smart girl who always does the right thing—like staying away from boys like Penn. On a whim, Penn tosses Harper a flirty note, and suddenly the two are involved in a romance. Penn intrigues Harper, but she’s skeptical about his interest in her and nervous about what might happen between them. Penn tries not to fall for Harper (he has problems at home with his father and is mourning a lost future in baseball after an injury), but each time he pushes her away, he finds himself begging her to forgive him. Writing in alternating points of view, Barnholdt (Sometimes It Happens) sets up romantic situations—batting lessons, evening picnics, carnivals—that are the stuff of high school dreams. Despite the characters’ reluctance to fall for the other, Penn turns out to be a guy to root for, while Harper remains kind, confident, and intelligent. A sweet, straightforward romance with the expected bumps along the way. Ages 14–up. Agent: Alyssa Eisner Henkin, Trident Media Group. (July)

BAM Customer Reviews

Stay in the Know

Sign up for savings, news, and updates.

Join the Millionaire's Club

Join the Millionaire's Club and receive FREE SHIPPING, plus tons of exclusive benefits and offers.